Heart disease is a lot more common than most of us believe. As many of you know, I became much more focused on heart disease after my husband recently suffered a serious heart attack. In my research, I learned that heart disease kills more people every year than all other forms of cancer combined! I didn’t know that. Here are a few other Heart Facts and links that you might find interesting.

February is the American Heart Month and also the month when we promote the Go Red for Women initiative. During the month of February we are challenged to focus on making healthy lifestyle choices that can improve our health. Towards that goal, for the next three weeks I will share information that can help us improve our heart health.

The two articles below are from the Go Red for Women website. Both of these articles share important information that can help anyone who is interested in improving their heart and overall health.

Happy New Year! ​A friend sent me the No Junk Food Challenge this past week and I thought it was worth sharing. We often make New Year’s resolutions that involve things like eating healthier and losing weight. Limiting these foods (and fake foods!) will result in a healthier and leaner you!

Make this the best year ever by really caring for your entire body and omitting these foods that tear it apart, and eventually can cause dis ease. Take the No Junk Food Challenge for 30 days and I will bet that you will feel better and most likely have a few less pounds to carry around too! ​To your good health!Gail Grieger

A recent conversation with a friend reminded me of the often-overlooked health benefits of fennel, an herb which is most commonly found in Mediterranean and Italian recipes. Many use fennel seeds in cooking, but the entire plant including the bulb root, leaves and seeds can be used. For many years people have used fennel to ease digestion and to treat the symptoms of constipation, diarrhea and even colic in babies (although be careful with babies because too much of the chemicals found in fennel can be harmful to the little ones!) According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, there is evidence that fennel may help reduce cholesterol and could also reduce inflammation and may help prevent colon cancer. Check out the quick-reference graphic below and then click on the links below it for more great information on this super herb.

We are moving from summer and the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables to the autumn and winter where it is easy to slip back into eating a little less healthy. This is the time of year when I always try to remind myself to make a conscious effort to eat clean – which is just a fancy way of saying to eat natural foods and avoid those that pack on the pounds!

Eating clean is really just about avoiding processed and refined foods and instead basing your diet on natural whole foods. Two of the big things to avoid are foods high in sugar or that convert to sugar and junk food that turns into unhealthy fatty acids. The graphic below provides a visual reminder of which kinds of foods to eat and which ones to avoid.

Eating clean is a healthy choice that can aid nutrition, help manage or avoid diseases, reduce and remove toxins and can often lead to healthy weight loss. No matter what, eating clean will make you feel better.​To your good health!Gail Grieger

Since this is the first day of Fall I thought I would do a post that tries to hang onto summer just a little longer! Up here in Northwest Indiana we can still usually get a pretty decent watermelon until that first frost. So I thought I would remind us of all the great benefits of watermelon while we enjoy our last few of the season. Check out this information from Dr. Axe.

Magnesium is mineral that is essential to your good health. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) magnesium “helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps the heart beat steady, and helps bones remain strong. It also helps regulate blood glucose levels and aid in the production of energy and protein.” There is also some evidence that magnesium might play a role in preventing or treating high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Unfortunately, many of us are not getting enough of this essential mineral in our daily diets.

In my practice I often see people who have muscle pain, leg cramps or headaches which sometimes are the result of a magnesium deficiency. One of the best ways to avoid the pitfalls of magnesium deficiency is to pay close attention to your diet. Adding green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts and whole grains will pump up the magnesium. Magnesium supplements could also be helpful for some people, but can sometimes cause gastric distress, so it’s a good idea to check with a healthcare professional before adding a supplement.

Some Common Magnesium-rich Foods

Apples

Artichokes

Avocados

Bananas

Broccoli

Chicken breast

Lima beans

Oatmeal

Okra

Peas

Pork Tenderloin

Potatoes

Quinoa

Salmon

Spinach

Want a quick magnesium snack? Try sunflower seeds, almonds or cashews. Or enjoy a piece of dark chocolate and get 24% of your daily magnesium quota!

I posted a couple of days ago about all of the bad things in that Halloween candy. I don't want to be a total spoil sport so here is a positive take on all of that candy. If you eat the candy (and I know I most likely will!) it helps to think about what you can do to eliminate those extra calories. Here is a quick reference graphic to help get you started.

I saw this illustration on Facebook and it reminded me of all of the reasons that I like to keep carrots in my diet. Most of the benefits of carrots come from the beta-carotene and fiber that it has in abundance. Plus carrots are also a great source of antioxidants and they have a sweet and pleasant taste.

You can enjoy carrots all year, but they won't be any fresher and sweeter than they are right now! Enjoy!

Welcome to my Blog!

Thanks for checking out my blog. I have had a life-long interest in all things related to health and wellness, which is part of the reason I became a massage therapist. I am constantly on a mission to increase my knowledge and I like to share what I learn with others. My hope is that these posts will be interesting and provide you with information and tips that can improve your health. If I can ever answer a question or if you think you might benefit from therapeutic massage, please give me a call or send me a note.